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A promising new approach to the old probem of assuring that New Orleans hospitals have a sufficient quantity of all types of blood for transfusions has been unveiled here.
The New Orleans Blood Bank, a private organization, has developed a blood transfusion plan under which an individual can give one unit of blood and the bank will provide un­limited blood for an individu­al for three years, or for a family group for one year.
Dr. Monroe Samuels, medi­cal director of the blood bank, said: "There is a shortage of blood today in New Orleans hospitals simply because peo-
ple have gotten lazy about giving. The blood transfusion plan was established to fur­nish an incentive for individ­uals to help meet this need."
ONE INDIVIDUAL who has
already benefited by the plan is L. E. Frederick of Destre­han, an employee of the Kai­ser Aluminum Plant in Gram-ercy.
When Frederick's son, Ray­mond, 7, was taken to Touro Infirmary for open heart sur­gery recently, the New Or­leans Blood Bank guaranteed the hospital they would re­place the same type and quantity of any blood given the youngster.
"Everything was great," beamed Frederick. "The oper­ation was a complete success and the blood bank replaced the six pints of blood that Raymond used."
FREDERICK IS A MEM­BER of the blood transfusion plan through an employee group at the Kaiser plant, where he has worked for five years.
"People who have no hospitalization insurance are faced by a $35-a-unit cost for blood," explained Touro In­firmary Associate Director Kenneth S. Jamron, "unless they replace the blood. Strange as it may seem, peo­ple today are reluctant to ask friends and relatives to re­place blood for them."
Besides, neither the hospital nor the blood bank particu­larly want to be paid in cash for the blood used by pa­tients.
"YOU CAN'T TRANSFUSE
monqy," Dr. Samuels noted. "Our primary need, and that of the hospitals, is for blood. It's amazing, but one day not long ago, no private hospital in New Orleans had any Type 0 Positive blood on hand."
Another interesting aspect, however, of the blood short­age is that local officials a^e sure there would be no prob­lem getting adequate amounts of blood if an emergency oc­curred.
"If there were some natural catastrophe and 50,000 New Orleanians desperately need­ed blood, we would have all the donors we could handle," Dr. Samuels stated. "People simply aren't inclined to give blood today unless there is an emergency situation."
THE NEW ORLEANS Blood Bank will accept money only from a donor when he is un­able to give blood because of health reasons.
Under these circumstances, the donor may pay a $10 fee and receive all the benefits of the transfusion plan.
The ultimate goal ot me blood bank is to build up a sufficient backlog of blood and donors so that supplying blood to the various hospitals will provide no problem, even when the type demanded is extremely rare or great quantities are needed.
A MAJOR PROBLEM, how­ever, is the short usable life of blood to be used for trans­fusion. After 21 days, a unit of blood that hks not been used must be discarded.
"We believe this approach to supplying blood for both individuals and hospitals has many obvious benefits," Dr. Samuels observed. "Our greatest problem is apathy."
"I just wish," he said, "I I had a nickel for everyone who has assured me they would join the plan but have just put it off. Invariably, then, someone in their family needs blood and they call to ask if it's too late to arrange for blood replacement."
IT USUALLY IS TOO late because the transfusion plan requires a 90-day waiting pe­riod before taking effect.
"I can tell you one thing, though," Dr. Samuels said, pointing to Frederick, who had just painlessly given a unit of blood. "The people who belong to the plan know that when you need us, we're right there." PHOTO: L. E, FREDERICK of Destrehan prepares to give a unit of blood at the New Orleans Blood Bank. Frederick's 7-year-old son Randy recently had a successful open-heart operation where the Blood Bank replaced the six pints of blood used during the surgery. Dr. Maud Loeber checks his blood pressure. PHOTO: FREDERICK painlessly gives blood as technician MRS. CAROL HEMSTREET stands by. Fred­erick orginally became a member of a blood transfusion plan through an employee group at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Gramercy where he works.